Top 10 surf spots in Morocco

Discover everything there is to know about the top 10 surf spots in Morocco thanks to your mates at Rapture Surfcamps.

Morocco is home to three things: the Atlas mountains, desert-dwelling Berbers and world-class waves (okay… that’s a bit reductionist). But it’s true that there are heaps of famous point breaks and beginner surf beaches. It’s therefore essential that you know which surf spots in Morocco are best if you want to make the most of your next trip.

Below is our pick of the bunch when it comes to surf spots in Morocco. From rifling waves for advanced surfers to friendly beach breaks for beginner and intermediate surfers. These Moroccan surf spots are guaranteed to fill your stoke tank way up!

Morocco: A point and beach break paradise

When to go

Fortunately for all you budding wax heads out there, Morocco gets surf for all 12 months of the year. The coastline faces both northwest and southwest. There are also a variety of surf spots for the beginner, intermediate and experienced surfer.

The best beginner surf beaches work well from the end of spring right through to the beginning of autumn. The more powerful point and reef breaks turn on when the autumn and winter swells arrive.

How to get there

The flight path that you take to reach Morocco will depend on where you’re coming from and which part of Morocco (north, central, south) that you want to visit. For the purpose of this article, we’ll focus on the Taghazout area.

To get to Taghazout, you’ll need to fly into Agadir. This is a roughly 25-minute drive from the town of Taghazout. People flying from North America will probably have a layover in Paris or Casablanca. People flying from Europe might be able to secure a direct flight depending on which country your depart from. For example: Paris offers direct flights, as does Amsterdam and Frankfurt.

Just note that if you’re bringing your own surfboard then you’ll most likely need to pay additional baggage fees. These fees vary from carrier to carrier – click here for the latest rates.

What to bring on a Morocco surf trip

Before you melt the credit card booking your next Rapture Surfcamps trip to Morocco, it’s best that you know what to bring and what you can leave at home.

There are of course surf shops in Taghazout and other Moroccan surf towns, but packing the right gear can save you time shopping around upon arrival (when you could be shredding). With that in mind, here’s our list of Morocco surf spots essentials:

• Surfboard

We have surfboards for beginners at our Banana Village surf camp. If you want something more high performance, a noserider longboard or a fish, then you’ll need to bring it yourself.

In regard to board types, anything that goes well on pointbreaks will be suitable. Also, it doesn’t hurt to bring a surfboard with a bit of extra volume given that the offshore winds can be quite strong.

• Wetsuit

Even though it’s sunny all year round, you’ll still need to wear a wetsuit for most of the year (you’ll be surfing in the Atlantic Ocean after all).

From October through to March we recommend a decent 3/2. Outside of these months though you can get away with a short arm or short leg wetsuit… or even boardshorts or a bikini if you’re brave. Just remember to wear sunscreen or some type of rashvest because that Moroccan sun can be rather intense.

• Clothing

During the peak learn-to-surf season (April to September), the climate around Taghazout and Central Morocco is dry and hot during the day or dry and cold in the evenings.

This means you’ll need summery clothing for daily adventures and something warmer for those chilly nights. A pair of runners for when you’re exploring the many oases and valleys plus some flip flops will also be suitable.

• Extras

If you’ve ever been to Indonesia or Mexico then you’ll know that contracting a gastrointestinal bug is a possibility – Morocco is no different.

It doesn’t happen to everyone on a surf trip but it happens enough that it pays to be prepared. Bring some electrolytes or charcoal pills if you want to avoid being hit hard by a rogue bug. As for local medical supplies, the pharmacy in Taghazout has a few essentials, however, it’s always good to have your own gear on hand.

The best surf spots in Morocco

Beginner surf spots in Morocco

1. Essaouira, Essaouira

Essaouira is a fantastic beginner beach break in Morocco. Locals say that it’s an accessible and funny wave with lots of character.

It has a soft sand bottom and there are both left and right peaks to find. It’s also best on a high tide with a light north wind. When the swell size increases, beginners can find shelter from larger waves by surfing at the northern end of the beach (near the lighthouse).

2. Magic Bay, Imsouane

Otherwise known as The Bay, this is the most popular surf spot in the area of Imsouane. The sandbanks make it a friendly option for beginners, as does the fact that it’s one long continuously breaking righthand wave. Rides can run for up to 600 meters when the conditions are perfect, making it one of the longest waves in all of Africa.

3. Banana Point, Aourir

Banana Point is located near the village of Aourir and surprise, surprise… this is another righthand pointbreak. The only difference between this one and some of the others in this article is that Banana Point has no current and is relatively user-friendly – making it great for all levels (including rookies).

4. La Source, Taghazout

La Source provides a mix of beginner-friendly walls and A-frame peaks. These peaks wall up slowly before breaking closer to shore, which makes the waves here ideal for beginner surfers on a Moroccan surf trip. There are also both rights and lefts on offer, however, the lefts are rarer.

Intermediate surf spots in Morocco

5. Panoramas, Taghazout

Panoramas is a sand bottom right hand point break that’s located on a long, sweeping beach. When it’s small it’s a great place for intermediate surfers to hone their skills or for beginner surfers to take that next leap towards becoming a certified shredder.

The vibe here is very cool and funnily enough, it doesn’t get as crowded as its neighbors. As the swell builds, the wave becomes more powerful, so make sure to check the forecast before you paddle out.

6. Hash Point, Taghazout

This well-known pointbreak wasn’t named because of its famous hashbrowns. Instead, it’s said that many people (lazy from smoking too much of Morocco’s most famous export) would surf here instead of walking up to Anchor Point.

Located smack bang in the middle of Taghazout, this fast righthander works well with a medium to large swell when the sand is in the right spot. Fun and mellow with some racy sections, it’s a classic intermediate surf break in Morocco.

7. Mysteries, Taghazout

Just north of Anchor Point is Mysteries – a world-class righthander that breaks over reef. It’s said to be more accessible than some of the other waves in the area, with rides that run for over 200 meters and barrelling sections. Hollow and fast, it’s a great surf spot for confident surfers looking to rip.

Advanced surf spots in Morocco

8. Anchor Point, Taghazout

By now you’re probably praying for a punchy beach break, but we’re sorry to say that the advanced surf spots in Morocco are all point breaks. After all, surfing in Morocco is really just one long surf lesson about how to ride a point break!

With that being said, out of all the point breaks in this part of the world, Anchor Point is perhaps the most iconic. On its day it produces legendary rides thanks to the sand and reef bottom plus the fact that it holds swell that’s well overhead.

There are barrels, steep takeoffs, carving sections and more. If there’s one beach break or point break out of all the Morocco surf spots mentioned in this article worth surfing, this is it. A challenging yet rewarding wave for advanced surfers.

9. Boilers, Taghazout

People staying at surf camps throughout Morocco whisper the name “Boilers” in hushed tones. The reason being that this break is the site of a sunken shipwreck, whereby you can actually see its boiler (or steam generator) at the takeoff zone.

Tricky but incredibly picturesque, Boilers is a wave for advanced surfers. There’s a strong current when it’s big and the reef is rather shallow. The downside here is that injuries can and do occur, but the upside is that it tubes hard.

The faster you can go on a wave at Boilers, the higher your chances are of making the barrelling sections and coming out unscathed. If you’re surfing in Morocco and you want to test yourself, Boilers is the place to be.

10. Desert Point, Arhoud

While nearly all beginner surf beaches and all the point breaks in Morocco are known for their quality and beauty, Desert Point is known for its inconsistency.

Don’t let the fact that it doesn’t break as often as the other waves deter you though. This wave (which is for experienced surfers only) can produce a close-to-perfect ride when it’s on. Look to surf it on low tide when the swell is 1-meter plus. You’ll be rewarded with 500 meter-long walls that can make (or break) your surf trip in Morocco.

Book a stay at our Rapture Surfcamps location in Tamraght, Morocco today!